Hlootoo's Art

unforgotten-sparrows:

It is VERY likely that I will receive lots of hate for posting this, but here goes:

Homosexuality–that’s
been the main topic on social media within the past few days, since same-sex marriage
has now been legalized in all 50 states as of last week. Needless to say, this
is a big deal for almost everyone—to those who agree and to those who do not agree.

I’ve seen so many
hateful posts—some towards gays and some towards Christians… both of which are
NOT OKAY. Honestly, though, I’ve seen far more hateful posts about/towards
Christians recently than anything else and that’s just really irritated me…
Especially when it’s people who are bashing Christians for being “hateful”… as
if that’s not being hateful as well… It’s sad the way people think that they
have to hate each other and treat each other this way just because they don’t
agree.

“Our culture has
accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s
lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means
you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have
to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” – Phil Robertson

Here’s what I
believe:

1)   
I believe that homosexuality is a sin
and I don’t agree with it… and yes, I believe that because the Bible says so (Romans
1:26-28; Leviticus 18:22).  I BELIEVE the
Bible. I believe in God. I believe the Bible is God-inspired (2 Timothy
3:16-17). I don’t bash others for not believing in God or for not believing the
Bible, so it’d be much appreciated for the same respect back.

2)   
Although I believe that homosexuality
is a sin and I don’t agree with it, I also believe that lying, stealing,
fornication, and jealousy are sins and I don’t agree with those either…yet I am
guilty of all of those sins. I am a Christian, but not because I believe that I’m
perfect…far from it, actually. I am a sinner in desperate need of God’s mercy
and love and forgiveness. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 13:8-10) What I’m
trying to say is that I don’t believe one sin is more wrong than another
because…”For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is
guilty of breaking all of it.” – James 2:10

3)   
I believe in compassion. I believe in
mercy. I believe in grace. I believe in love. I am a Christian and I believe
that as a Christian I am to strive towards being Christ-like…which is being
these things—compassionate, merciful, graceful, loving, etc… (Galatians 5:14;
Hebrews 13:1-5; James 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:8-9)

4)   
I believe that we shouldn’t judge
others. Simple as that, yet so hard to do—yes, even for me. (James 4:12; John
8:7-11; Matthew 7:3-5)

5)   
I believe that Christians should not
be promoting homosexuality as a sin far worse than others (again, also keeping
in mind Matthew 7:3-5) or responding in a way that’s hateful and unloving and
uncompassionate. It’s our job as Christians to be like Christ—loving the
sinners, even when we don’t love the sin. (One passage that comes to mind is
Matthew 9:10-12).

6)   
BUT I also believe that Christians
should have the freedom and the right to express their opinion and belief (in
gentleness and respect; 1 Peter 3:15-17), just like everyone else has been
given that right. And we have the RIGHT to NOT AGREE because of our belief,
just like those who do not share that same belief have the RIGHT to AGREE
because they don’t believe in our faith.

7)   
I believe that no one—whether atheist,
Christian, or of another faith—has the right to SLANDER one another with
hateful comments.

It won’t make much of a difference of what I
believe, though, but at least I know what I personally believe and hopefully it
will help in situations where I’m questioned about it. And even if it doesn’t
help, even if people still slander me because of what I believe, I’ll hold to
God’s promises. “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are
blessed.” – 1 Peter 3:14